Toe shield



April 18, 1939. H BUCKS 2,154,662

TOE SHIELD Filed June 6, 1938 .DavidJZBzzcks INVENTOR. l' 'g-.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to: snmm David Hiram Bucks, Milwaukee. Wis.

Application June a, 1m, Serial No. 212,113

4 Claims. (01. 2-239) This invention relates to a shield to be worn by the larger toes of the foot, the construction being such that the shield will be gripped and held by the pinching or cla ping action of the small 5 toes of the foot so that it will not become displaced accidentally after once being properly located on the foot.

It is a further object to provide a shield which serves to protect the hosiery to be worn thereover.

Another object is to provide a shield of this character which is reversible so as to be worn readily on either foot, it being possible to make the shield out of a soft material whereby added comfort is assured the wearer.

ll Another object is to provide a shield which will protect corns from friction and, when made of a soft material, can give added warmth to the toes in cold weather.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention consist of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shield in position on the toes of a foot.

Figure 2 is a section through the shield on line 2-4, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of shield.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference l designates a mit-like body so proportioned as to receive and fit snugly upon the first three 40 toes of the foot. At one side of this mit is a tubular portion 2 proportioned to fit about the fourth toe adjacent to and back of the middle joint. The free edge portion of the shield can be formed with an elastic weave indicated generally at 3 so that the net will fit snugly about the engaged portion.

This shield can be made of any suitable material having requisite strength and, if desired, can be fleece-lined or otherwise formed to give added warmth during the winter months.

The shield is applied by drawing it over the first three toes of the foot and inserting the fourth toe through the sleeve 2. This fourth toe, cooperating with the third toe, will act to grip that portion of the shieldlying between the toes. That portion of the tube 2 interposed between the fourth and fifth toes will be gripped thereby. Consequently when the shield is properly placed, the two gripping actions effected by the third, fourth and fifth toes will be sufiicient to maintain the shield in proper position while being worn.

Obviously with this device in place, the hosiery worn thereover will be protected to such an extent as to be rendered more lasting.

The shield is reversible so that it can be worn on either foot. .It can be easily washed and can be manufactured and sold at low cost.

Instead of providing the shield with a tubular side portion as shown in Figures 1 and 2, said shield, indicated at l in Figure 3, can be provided at one side with a band 5 forming a tie. After the modified form of shield has been placed on the first thre'e toes of the foot, this band 5 is tied about the fourth toe while the ends of the band are merely lapped between the fourth and fifth toes. Consequently the third and fourth toes will grip the wall of the shield as in Figure 1 while the fourth and fifth toes cooperate to grip the band. Therefore the shield will be held firmly on the foot.

What is claimed is:

1. A shield of the class described including a body portion closed at one end for encasing the first three toes of the foot and means extending from one side of said body portion and proportioned to embracethe base portion of the fourth toe of the foot and to expose the free end portion of said toe.

2. A device of the class described including a reversible body portion closed at one end for encasing the first three toes of a foot throughout the length thereof, a portion of said casing being insertible between the third and fourth toes so as to be gripped thereby, and means extending laterally from said body portion and forming a tube open at the ends proportioned to embrace the base portion and to expose the free end portions of the fourth toe, said means being positioned to be r pped by the fourth and fifth toes of the foot.

3. A device of the class described including a reversible body portion for encasing the first three toes of a foot throughout the length thereof, a portion of said casing being insertible between the third and fourth toes so as to be gripped thereby, and means extending laterally from said body portion for embracing a portion of the fourth toe so as to be gripped by the fourth and fifth toes of the foot, said laterally extending means comprising a tubular extension for receiving the fourth toe.

4. A device of the class described including a reversible body portion for encasing the first three toes of a. foot throughout the length thereof, a. portion of said casing being insertibie between the third and fourth toes so as to be gripped thereby, end means extending laterally from said body portion for embracing a portion of the fourth too so as to be gripped by the fourth and fifth toes of the foot, said laterally extending portion comprising ahead for embracing the fourth toe of a foot.

DMHD HIRAM BUCKS. 

